Apparatus for dental treatment using high pressure liquid jet

Abstract

A dental instrument includes a pneumatic pressure intensifier that supplies a handpiece having an orifice to generate a high velocity liquid jet. A pneumatic system includes valves to supply the pressure intensifier and control the output to the handpiece. A jet forming assembly includes an orifice mount in the handpiece, and a guide tube assembly secured to the orifice mount. The guide tube assembly is variably positioned to select the minimum distance from the jet orifice to the tissue target, so that the jet force may be controlled.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A high velocity liquid jet dental instrument, including: 
       reservoir means for supplying liquid to said jet;  
       pneumatic pressure intensifier means for receiving liquid from said reservoir means and generating a high pressure liquid output;  
       a dental handpiece;  
       first valve means for controlling the flow of said high pressure liquid output to said handpiece;  
       jet orifice means in said handpiece for receiving said high pressure liquid output and forming a high velocity, narrow jet beam.  
     
     
       2. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 1 , further including a pneumatic pressure source connected to power said pneumatic pressure intensifier means. 
     
     
       3. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 2 , wherein said first valve means includes a first pneumatic valve interposed between said pressure intensifier and said handpiece. 
     
     
       4. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 3 , wherein said first pneumatic valve comprises a three way valve that may be switched on to pass said high pressure liquid output to said handpiece, and switched off to vent pressure from said handpiece. 
     
     
       5. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 4 , further including first solenoid valve means for controlling said first pneumatic valve, said first solenoid valve means being controlled by an operator switch. 
     
     
       6. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 5 , further including second pneumatic valve means for controlling the pneumatic supply to said pressure intensifier. 
     
     
       7. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 6 , further including second solenoid valve means for controlling said second pneumatic valve means, said second solenoid valve means being controlled by said operator switch. 
     
     
       8. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said handpiece includes a generally tubular barrel, and at least one jet tube assembly removably secured to said tubular barrel. 
     
     
       9. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 8 , wherein said jet tube assembly includes a distal end, and an orifice mount received in a socket formed in said distal end of said jet tube assembly. 
     
     
       10. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 9 , wherein said socket is threaded internally, and said orifice mount includes external threads having a portion adapted to engage said internal threads of said socket. 
     
     
       11. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 9 , wherein said orifice mount includes a bore extending axially therethrough, and an orifice jewel secured in a recess in a proximal end of said orifice mount. 
     
     
       12. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 11 , wherein said orifice jewel includes an ultra-fine orifice for receiving said high pressure liquid output and forming a high velocity liquid jet beam directed distally through said bore. 
     
     
       13. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 12 , further including a guide tube assembly secured to said orifice mount. 
     
     
       14. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 13 , wherein said guide tube assembly includes a tubular internal cavity having internal threads adapted to engage said external threads of said orifice mount. 
     
     
       15. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 14 , said guide tube assembly further including a guide-tube extending distally and axially and aligned to provide a shielded pathway for said jet beam emanating distally from said orifice. 
     
     
       16. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 15 , further including means for connected aspiration suction to said tubular internal cavity of said guide tube assembly. 
     
     
       17. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 16 , further including at least one aspiration port extending transversely through said guide tube. 
     
     
       18. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 16 , further including a distal end wall of said guide tube assembly through which said guide tube extends distally. 
     
     
       19. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 18 , further including at least one aspiration port extending through said distal end wall of said guide tube assembly. 
     
     
       20. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 16 , further including a spray shroud joined to said guide tube assembly. 
     
     
       21. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 20 , wherein said shroud includes a concave member secured about the distal end of said guide tube assembly and connected to said aspiration suction. 
     
     
       22. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 21 , wherein said shroud is formed of transparent material to permit visualization of the jet target impact site. 
     
     
       23. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said guide tube assembly is variably positionable along the longitudinal axis of said orifice mount to selectively control the minimum distance from said orifice to a tissue target. 
     
     
       24. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said guide tube includes a linear tube having an open distal end for passing said jet beam to a tissue target. 
     
     
       25. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 24 , wherein said guide tube includes an interior surface having a helical conformation to apply a turbulent, swirling rifling influence to said jet beam. 
     
     
       26. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said guide tube includes a linear tube having a distal end closed by an oblique end wall, said end wall intercepting said jet beam and deflecting said jet beam to form a high velocity divergent spray. 
     
     
       27. The high velocity liquid jet dental instrument of  claim 26 , said guide tube including an output port in a sidewall portion thereof, said output port disposed in alignment with said high velocity divergent spray. 
     
     
       28. A high velocity liquid jet dental instrument, including: 
       reservoir means for supplying liquid to said jet;  
       pressure intensifier means for receiving liquid from said reservoir means and generating a high pressure liquid output;  
       a dental handpiece;  
       first valve means for controlling the flow of said high pressure liquid output to said handpiece;  
       jet orifice means in said handpiece for receiving said high pressure liquid output and forming a high velocity, narrow jet beam; and,  
       bubble detector means interposed between said reservoir means and said pressure intensifier means for detecting interruption in liquid supply and stopping said pressure intensifier means.